Top Azerbaijan Fish Catches

Azerbaijan’s fishing industry is closely tied to the Caspian Sea, which has long been a vital source of livelihood and food for the country. The most prized and historically significant catches are sturgeon species, particularly the beluga, Russian, and stellate sturgeons, which have made Azerbaijan famous for its caviar production. Overfishing and environmental changes have led to stricter regulations and a decline in sturgeon stocks in recent decades. Alongside sturgeon, other important fish include Caspian kutum, carp, pike-perch, and sprat. While the industry has faced challenges from pollution and resource depletion, fishing remains an important economic activity, with ongoing efforts to restore fish populations and modernize fishing practices.

RankFish SpeciesMetric Tons
1Black and Caspian Sea sprat1,314
2Kutum94
3Mullets nei74
4Caspian shads68
5Roach60
6Common carp39
6Freshwater bream39
8Freshwater fishes nei35
9Crucian carp29
10Pike-perch16
11Cyprinids nei11
12Wels(=Som) catfish5
13Vimba bream3
14Asp2
15Northern pike1

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.